Pictures from yesterday's ride

Diana asked me to take pictures of the beaver damaged areas on our trails. 

I looked at Olive, laughed. "Maybe sometime next year?" I joked.

Diana knows Olive, so she laughed, too.  Then she said, "I bet Laura would let you borrow Fortunataa."

Fortunataa+ is an older Arabian mare with an impressive performance record that includes a Tevis finish. She also had a long and equally successful broodmare career. Now she's Laura's weekend trail buddy.

I felt privileged to be entrusted with this grand old mare.

We saddled up and headed out.

Diana chartered a course that took us right up Rattlesnake Ridge. Thankfully, no rattlesnakes were present.

It's been a long time since I've looked through a pair of grey ears. I've really missed it.

We popped onto the main trail near Erica's Bench.

From there we rode along the edge of the bank, stopping frequently to take pictures of the beaver ravaged river bottom.

I haven't ridden out in nearly half a year so I hadn't realized how bad it's gotten. Diana says it's nearly impassable on horseback.

We rode under the Sixth Avenue bridge...

and turned around near the entrance to Eagle's Nest.

Then it was back through the trees.

It felt so good to be out there enjoying these trails with my friends...

and this sweet horse!

This was really a fun day. Thank you, Diana, for setting that up and thank you, Laura, for sharing Fortunataa with me.